Here’s how you can help bring more concerts to Limerick

Limerick City and County Council are urging its people to come forward with event and festival ideas for the city as part of its new refundable contribution scheme

“We want to show that we can put on big shows in Limerick,” said Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr James Collins.

According to Mayor Collins, the establishment of a concert task-force is urgently needed in Limerick after the city was ignored by Ed Sheeran in a nationwide tour that took in Cork, Galway, Dublin and Belfast.

Since then, Limerick City and County Council have met with key stakeholders interested in bringing concerts to Limerick, such as hoteliers, restaurateurs, chamber representatives and concert promoters.

One of the proposals made was the idea of a refundable contribution – whereby Limerick City and County Council could give a sum of money to help a promoter secure a major act.

It was suggested that Limerick City and County Council would share in any upside, through a small premium percentage, and be protected in the event of the concert not being profitable, as the money is invested as a refundable loan.

In response to criticism that Limerick doesn’t get these large events, Cllr Collins said: “We have proven that we have the venues, ideas and production companies that can deliver and that we can put on these big events that can be a success.”

“We will put on the events, but we need to people to come out, buy tickets, and support them,” he added.

Limerick City and County Council gave a €150,000 refundable loan to the Gaelic Grounds, on behalf of Limerick GAA, to facilitate the staging of the National Geographic concert last month.

“The success of the National Geographic Concert was an important statement about where this city stands on culture, on the environment, and on business,” Cllr Collins said.

“We have a beautiful, historic, riverside city with venues capable of catering for concerts of all sizes, from Dolans Warehouse to the Milk Market, from King John’s Castle to Thomond Park and the Gaelic Grounds,” he added.

“The beauty of this is that we want to let the creative people be creative. If you go to the Failte Ireland website, it will give you the information on the Festival Innovation Programme.

“You don’t need to have a track record, they will take you through the process they do the feasibility study and see if it will be shortlisted.

‘We want people to get involved as the money will go to other places nationwide. Failte Ireland want us to come forward with some inspiration and they will help us with the rest.”

Do you have an idea for a major event that could win Failte Ireland funding and add to Limerick’s growing reputation as a creative heartland? You can get further information, download a copy of the guidelines, and get details on how to apply for Failte Ireland funding here. You can also contact the festivals team at festivals@failteireland.ie